RUSSIAN pranksters say they impersonated Russian President Vladimir Putin in a hoax phone call to British singer Elton John.

Vladimir Krasnov, known as Vovan, and Aleksei Stolyarov (Lexus), renowned in Russia for targeting celebrities and politicians with their audacious stunts, say they called the British singer a day after he told journalists he would like to meet Putin to discuss gay rights.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied on Tuesday that Putin had made the call and suggested it could have been a prank after Elton John posted a photo of the Russian president on Instagram thanking him for the conversation.

Elton John posted a photo of the Russian president on Instagram thanking him for the conversation (Image: eltonjohn/Instagram)

Russia has been criticised by the West and human rights activists for its treatment of gay people and the "Rocket Man" singer has campaigned publicly against a 2013 law banning the dissemination of "gay propaganda" among young people.

John agreed to travel to Moscow for a Gay Pride event, and said he hoped to have a "wonderful discussion" with Putin.

John's representatives did not immediately return calls for comment on Wednesday after it was revealed that he had been the target of a prank.